There are nearly two dozen winery tasting rooms in downtown Napa, but few are quite like Flora Springs Wine Lounge. With sumptuous, playful décor inspired by Roman and Greek mythology, the venue shakes things up with cocktails made from Flora Springs wines, sparkling cuvées and fresh botanicals.
The story
For years, Wine Country power couple Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo have acquired and transformed historic California wineries, including Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma and Raymond Vineyards in Napa.
Even as many large wine companies shed brands amid a prolonged industry downturn, Boisset and Gallo continue to expand. The couple added Flora Springs Winery to their collection in 2024 and later began a dramatic renovation of the original St. Helena winery, founded in 1978 by the Komes family. In March, while construction was underway, they opened the Flora Springs Wine Lounge in downtown Napa.
“People are saying it’s the end of the wine world,” Boisset said of the current industry climate. “I say, not at all. I’m actually more excited than ever. People are drinking less, but more cleverly.”
He says consumers are also gravitating toward lighter-style wines with lower alcohol levels, including wine-based cocktails.
At Flora Springs Wine Lounge, guests can taste serious, vineyard-designated Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons or opt for a spritzy drink made with sparkling wine and Sauvignon Blanc.
“We wanted to provide an alternative experience [in downtown Napa],” Boisset said, describing his vision for a fun, relaxed space filled with beauty. “We want to capture people’s attention, invite them to dream with us and to go into an escape.”
The vibe
A major element of what Boisset calls the “reincarnation” of the Flora Springs brand story is a focus on Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, spring and fertility. The winery was originally named for Flora Komes, the Komes family matriarch.
You won’t find any of Boisset’s signature leopard print here. Instead, Flora Springs Wine Lounge is dripping in Baccarat chandeliers and deep green upholstery, with the sort of theatrical glamour that might entice Flora and Botticelli’s Venus — depicted together in a large framed artwork near the entrance — to swing by for a few drinks among the mortals.
The centerpiece of the main-floor salon is a marble bar inset with luminous green and blue accents. Boisset says the design evokes the Napa Valley landscape and the cycle of the seasons.
At the top of a grand staircase, a hidden mezzanine invites guests to settle into plush midnight-blue banquettes beneath dramatic celestial artwork.
On the palate
The lounge offers Flora Springs wines by the glass, flight and bottle, alongside wine-based cocktails. Under Boisset and Gallo’s ownership, the winery continues to produce many of the classic Napa Valley wines that put Flora Springs on the map, along with newer additions such as Vermentino.
The 2023 Napa Valley Trilogy ($115), a Bordeaux-style blend, is built to last, with balanced notes of cigar-box spice and blackberry. The 2024 Napa Valley Soliloquy ($90), a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia and Vermentino, has lovely floral aromas and peachy-citrus flavors.
More than 25 wines are available by the glass, starting at $13. Flights range from $40 for a selection of whites to $125 for a focused tasting of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
On the cocktail side, the Napa 75 ($17) is a lighter take on the French 75, combining Sauvignon Blanc, lemon, honey and JCB Brut sparkling wine. For something more herbal, try the Ruby Negroni Sbagliato ($19), a blend of Pinot Noir, bitter botanicals, blood orange and sparkling wine.
The lounge also offers artisan cheese and charcuterie, caviar service and wine-infused chocolate truffles.
Beyond the bottle
In January, Boisset launched another kind of sensory experience with longtime wine educator Ashley Pengilly. Located in First Street Napa Plaza beneath the Archer Hotel, Napa Fragrance sells subtly scented room sprays, candles and hand soaps inspired by Napa Valley growing regions.
The products are made with plant-based, organic ingredients. Guests can also book a guided experience to explore curated scent compositions and blend a custom home fragrance.
Flora Springs Wine Lounge, 1142 First St., Napa. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. florasprings.com
Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, HuffPost, and Sonoma Magazine. Follow Tina on Bluesky at @winebroad and visit her website at tinacaputo.com.